Why do I keep coughing up white phlegm?

The source of a white phlegm can be from conditions from the nose, lungs and stomach.

Common causes include:

1. Nose & sinuses - Common cold, Allergic Rhinitis (sensitive nose), Sinusitis (sinus infection) etc

2. Lungs - bronchitis (inflammation of the lungs), pneumonia (infection of the lungs), smoker's lungs etc

3. Stomach - acid reflux from the stomach

4. Dehydration

I would suggest a visit to a General Practitioner for an initial assessment if your condition has been persistent for a while.

Hope this helps and all the best!

According to TCM, phlegm arises due to dysfunctional water regulation. Two TCM organs playing vital role in water regulation are the Spleen 脾 and Lung 肺 systems. There is a TCM ideology - "Spleen is the origin of phlegm while the Lung stores it" [脾为生痰之源， 肺为储痰之器]. The Spleen also oversees the entire digestive system, while the Lung governs the respiratory tract (nose, throat etc) and the immune system.

A TCM physician uses the 4 Diagnostic Principles to identify the underlying reasons resulting in the phlegm production. It may be due to diminished functions of the Spleen and Lung, or it may be due to excessive consumption of high calorie, sugary, chilled food items. We aim to assist our patient in making lifestyle, dietary modifications and if necessary, utilize acupuncture and herbal prescription to revert this state of imbalances.

Common characteristics exhibit by a person with a phlegm-dampness body constitution include excessive phlegm production, water retention, profuse sweating, shortness of breath, sticky sensation in the mouth, lethargy and fatigue, abdominal and chest distension, soft & water stools etc.

Hope this helps!

With regards,
Physician Lee

Hi!

There is a further question: is your phlegm watery or sticky and do air bubbles appear?

The immediate suspicion is to your respiratory system, and could be due to the over secretion of mucus in response to inflammation of the bronchial tubes. I am assuming there is no asthmatic symptom such as wheezing. This sputum is a protective mechanism of the body and in TCM, it is considered as 肺气虚 i.e. the air passages are compromised. Decreased lung function may be due to smoking or backflow of nasal mucus.

Excessive sputum also correlates to a weakened digestive system, where more sticky substances are produced and with the compromised respiratory function, the phlegm travels upwards to the throat. This will then be considered as 肺脾气虚，痰湿阻滞.

We will need to have a closer look at your tongue and pulse and consult more to confirm the diagnosis and body type as there may be an underlying condition. Do seek professional advice should the phlegm persist.

Sincerely
Victoria

White phlegm is usually associated with “cold” in the body, but it also depends on the texture of the phlegm and other symptoms of the patient. Watery white phlegm is usually seen in patients who had experienced “wind-cold” and will show other related symptoms such as throat itchiness, headache, and fear of cold.

For patients who have long medical history of watery white phlegm, it is usually associated with deficiency of “Qi” of the lungs. These patients will have related symptoms such as weak coughing, prone to getting flu, breathlessness etc.

Patients who are weak in the spleen may also cough up white phlegm as TCM theory believes that spleen helps in the transportation and transformation of water. Spleen “Qi” deficient will cause water to accumulate and become phlegm.

People who frequently eat cold, raw food or food which are high in fats and sugar may easily develop white phlegm which are sticky in nature, and that is believed to be caused by “damp-coldness”. These patients tend to be afraid of cold, have poor appetite and feel lethargic often.

Above are the common reasons for coughing of white phlegm. However, every patient’s condition is different. In order to understand the reason behind each patients’ symptoms, other symptoms and information such as pulse and tongue diagnosis will be needed.